25 Golden Years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Public Service Are a Living Testimony to ‘Seva Paramo Dharma’: Energy Minister Anil Vij

Prime Minister Modi Has Seen the Country Closely; His Policies Have Transformed the Lives of People Across All Sections of Society: Energy Minister Anil Vij

“When Terrorism Was at Its Peak, the Resolve to Hoist the Tricolour from Kanyakumari to Kashmir Resounded Across the Country”: Anil Vij Recalls His Old Association with PM Modi

‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’: Thousands of Lamps Illuminate Ambala Cantonment’s Netaji Subhas Park at ‘Aashirwad Ka Diya’ Programme

CHANDIGARH, SEPTEMBER 18: Haryana Energy, Transport and Labour Minister Sh. Anil Vij participated in the ‘Aashirwad Ka Diya’ programme under the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan at Netaji Subhas Park in Ambala Cantonment late yesterday evening. Thousands of people lit lamps and prayed for the long life and good health of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Energy Minister Anil Vij paid floral tributes and saluted the statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at Subhas Park. Thereafter, addressing the gathering at the park’s open-air theatre, he said that people had assembled at Subhas Park and the entire area was illuminated with lamps. He said the light of these lamps, being lit across the country—in villages, cities and neighbourhoods—symbolised the people’s gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was born on September 17, 1950.

Vij said that September 17 was not merely a date on the calendar. He said Narendra Modi had transformed the age-old Indian cultural ethos of “Seva Paramo Dharma” (Service is the Highest Duty) into a living truth. He said the campaign being conducted from September 17 to October 17 was intended to commemorate 25 years of Prime Minister Modi’s public life, marked by cleanliness in public life, determination and dedicated hard work for the nation.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s style of working had demonstrated that nothing was impossible, provided there was determination, faith and hard work. “Whatever the goal, one has to work hard to achieve it. Even after achieving a goal, and even if one falls short of it, one must continue to work hard,” he said. Vij said Prime Minister Modi’s efforts had taken India to a level where it now stood alongside some of the world’s major nations. Referring to the recent BRICS summit, he said major global powers stood alongside the Prime Minister and sought to send a message to the world.

Prime Minister Modi Has Seen the Country Closely; His Policies Have Transformed the Lives of People Across All Sections of Society: Anil Vij

Energy Minister Anil Vij said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had worked for every sector and every section of society. He referred to initiatives such as Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, which was launched from Panipat, and said that in his first address from the Red Fort, Prime Minister Modi had spoken about cleanliness. He said that if this issue had been raised by the country’s first Prime Minister, the situation today could have been very different. Vij said toilets were constructed for women under various government initiatives, electricity was extended to villages across the country, and the Ujjwala Yojana was launched to free women from the smoke and hardship caused by traditional cooking stoves. He said Narendra Modi had seen the country closely and understood its problems well.

“When Terrorism Was at Its Peak, the Resolve to Hoist the Tricolour from Kanyakumari to Kashmir Resounded Across the Country”: Anil Vij Recalls Old Memories

Recounting his old association with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Energy Minister Anil Vij said that “I had the privilege of meeting the respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 1992, when the then BJP president, Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, undertook a yatra from Kanyakumari to Srinagar to hoist the Tricolour at Lal Chowk in Kashmir. Narendra Modi was the coordinator of that yatra. At that time, I was the state president of Kesariya Vahini, which had been formed to make the yatra successful in Haryana. I also had the opportunity to sit on the stage during the public meeting held in Ambala Cantonment, and there is a photograph from that occasion.” Vij said he had also shared the photograph on social media.
He recalled that it was a period of militancy and that the yatra carried the resolve to travel from Punjab to Kashmir and hoist the Tricolour at Lal Chowk despite all obstacles. He said Kashmir was an integral part of India and recalled the political position associated with BJP founder Deendayal Upadhyaya regarding the need for “one country, one flag and one Constitution.” Vij said a large statue in his memory would be installed at the Science Museum on the GT Road in Ambala Cantonment.

“Prime Minister Modi Took the Historic Step of Abrogating Article 370, Demonstrating Strong Resolve Along with the End of Militancy”

Vij said the BJP had always maintained that Kashmir was an integral part of India. He said that when India became independent in 1947, there were around 550 princely states, which Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel integrated into India. Similarly, he said, Maharaja Hari Singh of Kashmir had also signed the Instrument of Accession. Vij questioned why Article 370 had been introduced in Kashmir when Kashmir was part of India. Vij said he had entered political activity through the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad in 1970-71 and that since then they had been advocating the removal of Article 370. He said successive governments had come and gone, but Article 370 was not removed. According to Vij, after the Narendra Modi government came to power, Article 370 was abrogated. He described this as an example of determination and the journey from resolve to achievement. He said that laws applicable elsewhere in the country now applied throughout Jammu and Kashmir and that residents there were receiving the benefits of government schemes. He also said that militancy in Kashmir had come to an end.

“PM Modi Understood the Pain of the Poor and the Honour of the Nation; Operation Sindoor Taught Pakistan a Lesson”: Vij

Energy Minister Anil Vij said Narendra Modi had experienced poverty during his childhood and had witnessed the difficulties faced by families at close quarters. He said that when a family member fell ill, families often had to face severe hardship because they could not afford medical treatment. Vij said Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Ayushman Bharat scheme, under which people could access free treatment up to ₹5 lakh, providing relief and assurance to beneficiaries. He said electricity had been extended to the remotest parts of villages and that India’s standing in the world had been enhanced. Vij said that earlier, terrorists would cross the border and carry out attacks while India was largely limited to paying tributes to the victims. He said that under the Modi government, India had responded to militant attacks by taking action against those responsible.

Referring to Operation Sindoor, Vij said that India had carried out the operation against Pakistan and described it as a demonstration of the difference between the earlier and present approaches. He said this was why people across the country were celebrating the Prime Minister’s birthday by lighting lamps.

Anil Vij Takes a Dig at Congress: “Rajiv Gandhi Called It a ‘Weakness of the System’; Modi Plugged the Leakages in the Delivery System”

Energy Minister Anil Vij said the Prime Minister had launched several initiatives under the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) and had also made extensive use of technology in governance and administration. Taking a dig at the Congress, Vij referred to a statement attributed to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi that when ₹100 was sent from the Centre, only ₹15 reached the intended beneficiary while the remaining ₹85 was consumed by the system. Vij said that while Rajiv Gandhi had acknowledged the problem, Narendra Modi addressed it by promoting Jan Dhan bank accounts and direct transfer of benefits to beneficiaries. He said this ensured that funds reached beneficiaries directly and reduced the scope for intermediary leakages. Vij said this was one of the reasons opposition parties had lost political ground one after another. He said that under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, the BJP was in government in 22 states. He said that in a democracy, the greatest endorsement comes from the people and claimed that the people had repeatedly endorsed the Bharatiya Janata Party.

“Only PM Modi Has Envisioned Making India a Developed Nation”: Anil Vij

Energy Minister Anil Vij said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had set the goal of making India a developed nation by 2047. He said many Prime Ministers had served the country, but Narendra Modi had articulated the objective of transforming India into a developed nation by 2047. Vij recalled that when the decision was taken to project Narendra Modi as the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, a meeting of the party’s national committee was held in Goa, which he attended as a member. He said there was a unanimous view at the meeting that projecting Modi as the Prime Minister could help the BJP defeat the Congress. He said that since 2014, the BJP had formed governments at the Centre and in several states. Vij said that someone could make mistakes in what they said, but people could not be wrong in repeatedly voting for the BJP, adding that, according to him, the public had recognised the party that was delivering development.

Vij also said that elections would be held in Punjab in the future and expressed the view that the BJP would form the government there. He said all the states would work together towards making India a developed nation by 2047. He highlighted the expansion of the road network across the country, preparations for bullet trains, the construction of new airports and the proposed commencement of operations at Ambala Cantonment Airport. Vij cited an example to underline the importance of infrastructure and connectivity. He said someone had once remarked that American roads were good because America was a rich country, to which a wise person responded that America was rich because its roads were good. He said connectivity was essential for development and that Prime Minister Modi had expanded the road network across the country. He also said the Make in India initiative had been promoted to strengthen the economy.Vij stated that India’s economic growth rate in the first quarter was 7.8 per cent, describing it as a strong performance.

Energy Minister Anil Vij said that people across India were blessing Prime Minister Modi and wishing him good health and a long life so that he could continue working towards taking the country among the leading nations of the world. He said the people had lit the ‘Aashirwad Ka Diya’ as a prayer for the Prime Minister’s good health and long life. Thousands of lamps were lit across Subhas Park, illuminating the entire venue.
Earlier, upon his arrival, SDM Kanika Goyal welcomed him with a bouquet. Deputy Commissioner Sachin Gupta, CEO Zila Parishad Gagandeep, SDM Kanika Goyal, Municipal Council President Swarn Kaur, Vice-President Lalta Prasad, senior BJP leader Kapil Vij, Sanjeev Soni, BS Bindra, Ajay Baveja, Ashish Aggarwal, Vipin Khanna, Kirnpal Chauhan, Atul Mahendru, Shailendra Khanna, Aarti Sehgal, Anuj Yadav, Deepak, Anil Behal and Suraj Rana, along with a large number of party workers, were present on the occasion.

Meanwhile, the BJP’s Ambala Cantonment unit organised lamp-lighting programmes on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday at several locations, including the historic Shaheedi Smarak, Civil Hospital, Atal Cancer Care Centre, the under-construction airport, Bank Square, the BJP office on Nicholson Road, community centres, dharamshalas, homes and several other locations. Party media in-charge Balkesh Vats said that under the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan, the BJP would conduct a month-long Seva Pakhwada from September 17 to October 17, featuring 12 different public outreach and political programmes.